EP0326644B1 - Programmable control or regulation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A programmable regulating device, preferably for the regulation of a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning installation, is disclosed. The inventive device illustratively comprises a microprocessor, a program and data memory and a service panel which includes a label, selection keys, edit key and display. The contents of the label are variable. A plurality of service cards are assigned to the service panel. Each service card is provided with a number of display lines equal to the number of lines in the label and supports a machine-readable encoding field comprising one or more markings. The service panel is provided with a reading unit by means of which all existing markings can be read. The encoding field of each service card is differentiated by the number and/or varying arrangement of markings, so that the microprocessor is informed through the reading unit and the encoding field as to which service card has been assigned to the reading unit. Depending upon the information recognized, the microprocessor services a program part attributed to that information and displays on each display line the information pertaining to the corresponding line in the label.

Description

The invention relates to a programmable control or regulating device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Control devices of this type are e.g. known by the product description "Monogyr Dialog" from Landis & Gyr, Zug (Switzerland). They are able to solve a wide variety of control and regulation tasks by running a program executing these control functions and regulation tasks in their microprocessor, which is stored in a program memory and uses data stored in a data memory. The program memory is generally a read-only memory (ROM). Different program sequences are possible in that different program parts are processed in the program based on certain data. The data influencing the program sequence are generally entered on the one hand via a control panel and on the other hand called up by peripheral additional devices.

If such a control device is to be universally applicable, it must be programmable by its user. The actions to be performed by the user are generally the more complicated the more diverse the possibilities of the control device. In the case of a control device for controlling heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, there are usually a large number of different parameters and facts that can be entered into the control device by the user. In the sense of examples, the following should be listed: The control device must be entered which room temperatures are to be regulated by the control device for which specific time periods; A program selection must be made on the control device, by means of which the control device can perform certain different control tasks with regard to differences in the system to be controlled.

In known control devices, the respective operating method is mostly different and difficult to understand for the user, so that the control unit is usually provided with extensive, often illustrated operating instructions. If the user wants to act on the control device, he must take these operating instructions to hand in order to obtain information about the operating procedure for the desired option of the control device. In many cases, the operating procedures are so difficult to understand that the user has to call in a specially trained specialist who then takes over the task of setting the control device according to the user's wishes.

A control panel of a numerically controlled machine tool is known from US Pat. No. 4,445,182, on which a large number of function keys, labeled indicator and signal lamps, a numerical keypad for entering numerical values and selector switches are provided. The control panel is so complex that the specialist cannot do without detailed operating instructions.

From EP-A1-0 123 099 a control panel of an electrical household appliance is known, in which the desired program can be selected by means of a bar code reader. The bar codes assigned to the individual programs can either be arranged on the device itself or attached to a card assigned to the device.

Finally, a data input device with a magnetic card reader is known from US Pat. No. 4,682,014. Programmed magnetic cards are assigned to this device, on which certain data relating to the data input are stored. States are indicated by means of indicator lamps and associated comments can be shown on a display, which makes operation easier.

The invention has for its object to provide a control or regulating device of the type mentioned, which makes it possible to make the dialog of the operator with the control or regulating device easily understandable and clear using the simplest possible aids.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Fig. 1

die Ansicht eines Regelgerätes mit seiner Bedienfront,

Fig. 2

die Ansicht eines Regelgerätes mit variierbarer Bedienfront,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch eine Kassette der variablen Bedienfront,

Fig. 4

einen aus mehreren Bedienkarten gebildeten Block,

Fig. 5

eine Vorrichtung zur statischen Erfassung von maschinenlesbaren optischen Codierungen,

Fig. 6

ein Blockschaltbild eines Regelgerätes,

Fig. 7

eine Vorrichtung zur dynamischen Erfassung von maschinenlesbaren optischen Codierungen,

Fig. 8

ein Beispiel für eine Anordnung von Codefeldern einer dynamisch lesbaren optischen Codierung,

Fig. 9

eine Schaltung zur Wandlung optischer Codierungen in elektrische Signale,

Fig. 10

ein weiteres Beispiel für eine Anordnung von Codefeldern,

Fig. 11

eine Teilansicht von oben eines Regelgerätes.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show

Fig. 1

the view of a control device with its control front,

Fig. 2

the view of a control device with variable operating front,

Fig. 3

a section through a cassette of the variable operating front,

Fig. 4

a block formed from several operating cards,

Fig. 5

a device for the static detection of machine-readable optical codes,

Fig. 6

a block diagram of a control device,

Fig. 7

a device for the dynamic detection of machine-readable optical codes,

Fig. 8

an example of an arrangement of code fields dynamically readable optical coding,

Fig. 9

a circuit for converting optical codes into electrical signals,

Fig. 10

another example of an arrangement of code fields,

Fig. 11

a partial view from above of a control device.

A control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an operating front 2, via which the user can communicate with the control device 1. On the operating front 2 there is a display 3 e.g. arranged in the form of a liquid crystal display, a title block 4, a plurality of selection buttons 5 and a correction button 6. A large number of display lines 7 are present within the display 3. The number of selection keys 5 is equal to the number of display lines 7, with each display line 7 being assigned one of the selection keys 5. The title block 4 contains information in the form of texts 8 and / or symbols 9, at least some of which are arranged in a line shape such that the texts 8 and / or symbols 9 are recognized as meaningfully assigned to the display lines 7 and the selection keys 5 without further explanation will. For example, it can be clearly seen that the symbol 9 in the form of a clock is assigned to all display lines 7 and all selection keys 5, while the text "day of the week (1 ... 7)" is assigned only to the top display line 7 and the top selection key 5. Without further explanation, it can also be seen that the text "useful time 1" is assigned to the second, third and fourth lines seen from above. It can thus be seen without any doubt that the second display line 7, seen from above, and the associated selection key 5 are assigned the text “useful time 1, start”. Texts 8 and symbols 9 within the text field 4 thus make it clear to the user the meaning of each display line 7 within the display 3 and the meaning of each selection key 5.

Each selection button 5 is used for all of the Display lines 7 and the texts 8 and / or symbols 9 assigned to them select a display line 7 which is activated by operating a selection key 5. In addition to a certain number of digits 10, each display line 7 of the display 3 also contains a marking field 11.

The marking field 11 can be an arbitrarily shaped geometric structure that is only visible when it has been activated. This marking field 11 can serve various purposes. For example, it can be used to indicate to the user which selection key 5 he previously pressed. If a selection button 5 is pressed briefly, a display appears in the marking field 11. The marking field 11 is invisible for all inactive display lines 7. This type of optically recognizable marking has the advantage that the user recognizes beyond doubt which selection key 5 was pressed by one of his operating actions. It is therefore not necessary for the user to remember which selection key 5 he had previously pressed.

The number of digits 10 of each display line 7 depends on which values are to be displayed with which accuracy. If, for example, displays are requested for the number of the day of the week, for times, for temperature details, for values of relative humidity and for programs, as is usually the case with controllers for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, four digits are generally sufficient, where each digit can be assigned a decimal point for use with numerical values and / or a colon for use with time information. Each display line 7 thus comprises, for example, four digits 10 and a marking field 11.

While the selection buttons 5 as described for selecting a display line 7 and the associated text and / or symbol line serves, the task of the correction key 6 is to correct the displayed values for the activated selection key 5. Because it is generally necessary to change values in the positive and negative directions, that is to say to increment or decrement the values, it is expedient to use a toggle key as correction key 6.

Such a toggle button emits different signals depending on which end of the button is pressed. If the end of the key labeled "+" is pressed, an incrementing effect is triggered in a known manner, while a decrementing effect is triggered when the end of the key labeled "-" is pressed. Without further explanation, the user can clearly see what is meant in each case and what the consequences of his actions are when he presses one of the ends of the button.

It is of course also possible to use two separate buttons instead of a single toggle button, one of which takes over the incrementing function of the toggle button and the other the decrementing function of the toggle button.

With a control device 1 with a control front 2 corresponding to FIG. 1 with ten selection keys 5, ten values can be displayed and modified. According to the representation of text 8 and symbols 9 according to the figure, this can be the day of the week with values from one to seven and three useful times each, it being possible to enter the start and end and the room temperature to be maintained during this useful time. These are data by which the user can program the control device 1.

Instead of ten selection buttons 5 and a display 3 with ten display lines 7, there could also be eight or twelve, for example. In principle, the number is arbitrary.

However, a powerful control device should also have other operating options. The obvious idea of increasing the number of selection buttons 5 and display lines 7 in accordance with the required programming and display options is, however, limited by the size of the operating front 2. In addition, the more controls and display options are available, the higher the costs. In addition, with a very large number of operating elements and display options, the clarity would suffer greatly. The number of twelve selection buttons 5 and twelve display lines 7 can be regarded as optimal for ergonomic reasons.

Because the twelve operating options offered by this are not sufficient for a powerful control device, the control device 1 described here is intended to make the text field 4 interchangeable and to assign different functions to the selection keys 5 and the display lines 7 depending on the text field 4, the control device 1 can automatically see how the title block 4 is made up.

In order to make this variability of the writing field 4 user-friendly, a control device 1 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 has a cassette 30 instead of a simple writing field 4, which is pivotably attached to the control panel 2 of the control device 1. 3, the cassette 30 is drawn in its open position, while the "closed" position is indicated by dashed lines.

Operating cards 31 can be inserted into this cassette 30 through an opening 32 when the cassette 30 is in its open position. However, if the cassette 30 is in the "closed" position, no operating cards 31 can be inserted and an operating card 31 that has already been inserted cannot be removed. The cassette 30 has a transparent front 33 through which the front side 34 of the control card 31 is visible even when the cassette 30 is closed. Texts 8 and symbols 9 applied to this front side 34 are thus visible to the user in the same way that the text field 4 on the control front 2 in a control device according to FIG. 1. The front face 34 thus takes over the function of the text field 4, that is to say represents itself a title block 4.

Several such control cards 31 are advantageously connected, for example by a spiral 35, to form a block 36 (FIG. 4). Instead of a single operating card 31, the entire block 36 of operating cards 31 is inserted into the opening 32 of the cassette 30, the operating card 31 lying on top as seen by the operator, the front 34 of which faces the user, is the respectively active operating card 31.

Each operating card 31 within block 36 has a different content with regard to the representation of texts 8 and symbols 9 on the respective front side 34. Because the control device 1 also has different data in the individual display lines 7 in accordance with the different contents shown on the front side 34 of each operating card 31 of the display 3, the operating cards 31 carry a machine-readable coding that is unique, and the control device 1 has a device for reading this coding.

Each operating card 31 has on its front 34 a code field 37 in which various markings 38 are present. There are many ways to do this. The type of device for machine reading of such a coding has to depend on how the coding is constructed. Various possibilities of such combinations of reading device / coding are described below.

A simple, statically working code evaluation is based on the fact that each operating card 31 bears one of the information units on its front side 34 at precisely defined locations which correspond to the position of optical scanning elements. Such different information units that can be detected by the scanning elements can, for example, on the one hand be the information "light" and on the other hand the information "dark" or "white" and "black".

For this purpose, for example, a reading unit 41 consisting of a plurality of reading elements 40 can be present in the cassette 30 (FIG. 5). Each reading element 40 consists, for example, of a light-emitting diode and a photo transistor. The light-emitting diodes of each reading element 40 are constantly under voltage, at least during the machine reading process, and therefore continuously emit light. If there is a white surface opposite a reading element 40, the emitted light is reflected and reaches the optics of the phototransistor of the reading element 40. The phototransitor thereby becomes conductive. If, however, there is a black surface opposite a reading element 40, light emitted is not reflected. No light enters the optics of the phototransistor, so that it does not conduct. In this way, electrical signals can be obtained from the nature of the surfaces lying opposite a reading element 40. A white area means an electrical signal corresponding to logic "0", a black area an electrical signal corresponding to logic "1".

With five reading elements 40, since two states are possible, 2⁵ = 32 different codes can be represented. The state in which all the surfaces opposite the reading elements 40 are white can expediently be used to indicate that there is no operating card 31 in the cassette 30. This is achieved in that area of the cassette 30, which is opposite the reading unit 41, is white.

In this way, if each operating card 31 carries an unmistakable code with at least one black marking 38, 31 different operating cards 31 can be distinguished. This is completely sufficient for the needs of a generic control device.

A generic control device (FIG. 6) consists of a microprocessor 50 which is connected to a program memory 51 and a data memory 52. Program memory 51 and data memory 52 can also be a single memory 53 in which programs and data are stored. If there are separate memories for the program and the data, i.e. a program memory 51 and a data memory 52, it is expedient to use a read only memory (ROM) as program memory 51 and a random access memory (RAM) as data memory 52, while in the event that a single memory 53 comprising a program and data is used, an electric erasable programmable memory (EEPROM) is used for this purpose, in which data can be kept permanently, but can also be overwritten.

The microprocessor 50 is also connected to an interface 54 to which peripheral units are connected. Such peripheral units are, for example, the reading unit 41, but also, for example, an analog / digital converter 55, via which temperature sensors such as a flow temperature sensor 56, a room temperature sensor 57 and / or an outside temperature sensor 58 can be connected. The display 3, as well as the selection keys 5 and the correction key 6 are also connected to the interface 54, but expediently not directly, but via a multiplexer 59. However, it is also possible, for example, the selection keys 5 and the correction key 6 directly to the microprocessor 50 to connect.

The levels of the individual reading elements 40 (FIG. 5) of the reading unit 41 are present at the interface 54 and are therefore recognizable for the microprocessor 50. A program which is stored in the program memory 51 or in the memory 53 and determines the mode of operation of the microprocessor 50 can now be designed in such a way that the levels of each individual reading element 40 are periodically queried.

The program running in the microprocessor 50 branches to different program parts depending on the determined levels of the reading elements 40. This ensures that, according to the code of a specific control card 31, it is possible to branch to a program part which sends to the display 3 precisely the data which belong to the content of the text field 4 with texts 8 and symbols 9 of this specific control card 31.

For example, on an operating card 31 with the code "01101", the text "day of the week (1 ... 7)" of the first display line 7, the text "usage time 1 start", the second display line 7, the text "usage time 1 End "and the fourth display line 7 the text" room temperature ° C "assigned, then, when the microprocessor 50 detects via the interface 54 that the code" 01101 "is read on the reading unit, the microprocessor 50 branches to that program part, which in the first display line 7 of the display 3 shows a number for the day of the week according to the status of an internal clock shown in the program, in the second display line 7 the value of the start of the first useful time period belonging to this day, as stored in the data memory 52 is, and so on.

Depending on the code of an operating card 31, a specific program part assigned to this code is thus processed in the microprocessor 50. There is a corresponding program part in the program for each code implemented.

The coding described so far is called static because the code of an operating card 31 is available at the interface 54 statically as long as the relevant operating card 31 is in the cassette 30.

However, it is also possible to use dynamic coding, which is only read while the operating card 31 is being inserted into the cassette 30 and is then stored in the data memory 52. This is advantageous because it can reduce the effort for the reading unit 41 (FIG. 7). It is possible to read a code field 37 with a reading unit 41 containing a single reading element 40.

While static coding requires that the locations of the markings 38 are precisely matched to the locations of the reading elements 40, dynamic coding must ensure that the code field 37 with the markings 38 on the one hand relates to the location of the single reading element 40 is coordinated and, on the other hand, the longitudinal axis of the code field 37 lies exactly in the direction of movement of the operating card 31 when it is inserted into the cassette 30, so that the markings 38 are moved past the reading element 40 when an operating card 31 is inserted. The markings 38 are thus arranged in a code track.

In order to make the result of the code evaluation independent of the speed when inserting the operating card 31 and also to make it possible to recognize incomplete insertion of the operating card 31 in a simple manner, a coding suitable as static coding is not sufficient. Two variants of a coding suitable for dynamic reading are explained in more detail below.

It is known and customary and, in the case of static coding, it was also previously described that, for example, an electrical signal corresponding to a white area corresponding to logic "0" and assigns an electrical signal corresponding to logic "1" to a black area. In order to obtain a high level of reading reliability, however, it is proposed here not to use the brightness signal itself, but rather its time derivative in accordance with the change in brightness to obtain the logical information.

For this purpose (Fig. 8) are advantageously two code fields 37, namely a first code field 37 'and a second code field 37˝, arranged side by side so that their longitudinal axes are parallel. Associated with them is a reading unit 41 with a first reading element 40 ′ and a second reading element 40˝, the first reading element 40 ′ being assigned to the first code field 37 ′ and the second reading element 40˝ being assigned to the second code field 37˝. The code fields 37 'and 37˝ are applied to the front 34 of an operating card 31. When the operating card 31 is moved by the reading unit 41 in the direction shown by an arrow 42, signals s ′ and s˝ arise as a function of the time t, which correspond to the time derivative of the brightness signal at the reading elements 40 ′ and 40˝. If, for example, the code field 37 'is regarded as an information carrier for the information logically "0" and the reading element 40' assigned to this code field 37 'provides the time derivative s', then the temporal signal sequence contains an image of the time occurrence of the information logically "0". The same applies to the code field 37˝ as information carrier for the information logically “1” in connection with the reading element 40˝ and the time derivative s˝. The addition of the time derivatives s' and s˝ then leads to the signal sequence F.

The circuit shown in FIG. 9 can be used, for example, to convert the code fields into electrical signals in this way. There are two reading elements 40 'and 40˝, each consisting of a light-emitting diode 70' and 70˝ and a photo transistor 71 'and 71˝ consist. It is useful to connect the two light-emitting diodes 70 'and 70 und in series with a series resistor 72, for example the series resistor 72 being connected to the positive operating voltage V _cc , while the cathode connection of the light-emitting diode 70˝ is connected to ground.

The phototransistors 71 'and 71˝ are switched so that they are connected to ground with their emitter, while their collector connections are connected to resistors 73' and 73˝, the second connection of which is connected to the positive operating voltage. The collector terminals of the phototransistors 71 'and 71˝ are also connected to inputs 74' and 74˝ of a signal conditioning circuit 75 'and 75˝. The signal conditioning circuits 75 'and 75˝ also each have an output 76' and 76˝. These outputs, at which the signal sequences s' and s˝ (Fig. 8) occur, are connected to the interface 54.

If there is a black marking 38 in front of the optics of the reading element 40 'consisting of the light-emitting diode 70' and the phototransistor 71 ', the phototransistor 71' does not conduct. Accordingly, its collector connection and thus also the input 74 'of the signal conditioning circuit 75' is at the potential of the operating voltage (high potential). If, on the other hand, there is a white surface in front of the optics of the reading element 40 ', the phototransistor 71' conducts and thus its collector connection and thus also the input 74 'of the signal conditioning circuit 75' is approximately at ground potential (low potential). The signal processing circuit 75 'in turn generates a pulse with each change from high to low potential and from low to high potential, which it transmits via its output 76' to the interface 54.

The second part of the circuit shown in Fig. 9, consisting from the reading element 40˝, which is formed from the light-emitting diode 70˝ and the phototransistor 71˝, the resistor 73˝ and the signal processing circuit 75˝ with its input 74˝ and its output 76˝ works in an analogous manner.

It is not absolutely necessary to convert the information stored in the code fields 37 into a serial logic signal with the aid of signal conditioning circuits 75 'and 75˝. The integrated circuits that can be produced thanks to newer technologies allow much simpler solutions.

The described method of coding works reliably even when the speed when inserting an operating card 31 into the cassette 30 is not uniform, because it is possible to easily obtain the clock signal from the serial signal sequence by means of an EXOR function. A clock signal supplied from the outside is therefore not necessary and thus the need for a speed to be maintained when inserting is also eliminated.

While in the static code evaluation, the number of reading elements 40 required has to be based on how many operating cards 31 are to be distinguished, only one reading element 40 is required per code field in the dynamic code evaluation, regardless of the number of operating cards 31 to be distinguished. Without additional effort for the reading device, the number of different codes can be increased considerably with a dynamic code evaluation. Thus, the code fields 37 'and 37˝ shown in Fig. 8 allow the extraction of 21 bits of information. Because a total number of 2²¹ = 2097152 different operating cards 31, which could be differentiated in this way, is not required at all, it is possible to increase the number of bits beyond the amount necessary to distinguish different operating cards 31 to be used for other purposes, for example to build an error-redundant code.

The space required for code field 37 (FIG. 4) depends on the number of bits required and the dimensions of the reading unit. It is possible to make the reading unit 41 so small that the width of a code field 37 can be reduced to about 2 mm and the distance between the code fields 37 'and 37˝ (Fig. 8) can be measured with only about 2 mm. The minimum length of a marking 38, based on the direction of movement when reading, can also be reduced to approximately 2 mm. It is thus possible, for example, to place about 25 bits of information on a length of a code field 37 of 50 mm.

It is also possible to provide a specific pattern of markings 38 at the beginning of code field 37, which pattern is the same for all operating cards 31, in order in this way to be able to first check each time an operating card 31 is inserted into cassette 30 whether the reading device is working properly. It is also possible to make the end of the code field 37 recognizable by a certain pattern of markings 38 that is the same for all operating cards 31. It is thus possible that the control device 1 can automatically detect whether an operating card 31 has been completely inserted into the cassette 30. If the control device 1 recognizes with the aid of the program running in its microprocessor 50 that an operating card 31 has not been completely inserted into the cassette 30, the program running in the microprocessor 50 can cause, for example, that in the first display line 7 of the display 3 a message "Err" (error) appears, which can be flashed to increase the conspicuousness, and that at the same time all other display lines 7 remain empty and, in addition, the functions of the selection keys 5 and the correction key 6 are blocked.

It is also advantageous if a mark 38 is present on at least one of the code fields 37 when the control card 31 is completely inserted in the field of view of the reading unit 41. In this way, it can be seen, for example, even after a power failure, that an operating card 31 is in the cassette 30.

If an operating card 31 has been inserted into the cassette 30 and the information about which operating card 31 is located in the cassette 30 has been written into the data memory 52 (FIG. 6), the program running in the microprocessor 50 can be accessed by accessing this information recognize which control card 31 is active and process the program part belonging to this control card 31 accordingly. The information as to which control card 31 is located in the cassette 30 is advantageously made available not in the data memory 52 but in a data register provided in the microprocessor 50. The program now shows in the display 3 the data belonging to the active operating card 31.

If the operating card 31 were now removed, the user would no longer be able to correctly interpret the data shown in the display 3 and would be confused. It is therefore advantageous to design the control device 1 in such a way that it is not possible to change the operating card 31 while data belonging to an operating card 31 is being displayed. This can be achieved in an advantageous manner in that a cassette contact 80 (FIG. 3) which can be actuated by the cassette 30 is present in the region of the pivotably arranged cassette 30. The cassette contact 80 is actuated by the cassette 30 via a plunger 81. The cassette contact 80 is closed when the cassette 30 is in the open position and is opened via the plunger 81 when the position indicated by the broken lines is reached by closing the cassette 30. If the cassette 30 is brought back into the open position, under the effect of a Not shown spring of the cassette contact 80 closed again, whereby the plunger 81 is moved toward the cassette 30.

If the position of the cassette contact 80 is queried by the program running in the control device 1, which can be done in a manner yet to be described, it is possible to activate the device for reading the coding of an operating card 31 only when the cassette 30 is in Is open position, and to activate the device for displaying display values belonging to an operating card 31 in the display 3 only when the cassette 30 is closed. This ensures that no data belonging to the title block 4 can be shown on the display 3 when the cassette 30 is open.

In the case of coding according to FIG. 8, it is necessary to provide a specific arrangement of markings 38 in accordance with a specific bit pattern for recognizing the start of a code field 37. It is also necessary to provide a certain bit pattern for recognizing the end of the code field 37. However, it is also advantageous to provide a further separate code field in which only the information about the start and end is contained, that is to say no information about data on the control card 31. FIG. 10 shows such an arrangement with a three-track coding.

Since the coding contains an additional code field 37 gegenüber compared to FIG. 8, there is also an additional reading element 40 zum for reading this additional code field 37 ‴, so that the reading unit 41 according to FIG. 10 comprises a total of three reading elements 40. The additional code field 37 ‴ carries only two markings 38, namely one at each end of the code field 37 ‴. The one mark 38, which is at the beginning of the code field 37 hinsichtlich with respect to the direction of movement when reading, is 38a designated, while that mark 38, which lies at the end of the code field 37 hinsichtlich with respect to the direction of movement when reading, is designated 38e.

The coding "start" can now be done, for example, by the fact that a marking 38 is arranged in the code field 37 ‴, while at the same height in relation to the direction of movement in the adjacent code fields 37 'and 37˝ there are no markings 38 while the coding "End" can take place in that in addition to the marking 38e in the code field 37 ‴, a marking 38 is also present in an adjacent code field 37, the code field 37 'or the code field 37˝. It can thus be determined if a control card 31 is only partially inserted into the cassette 30 and then pulled out again, which would lead to incorrect and thus misleading control card recognition. The third code field 37 ‴, which only carries the information about “start” and “end”, thus serves to improve the security of detecting incorrect manipulations by the user. This also improves usability.

In the case of a programmable control device of the type described, a distinction can be made between programming which is carried out relatively frequently by the user and programming which is carried out rarely or only once during installation. The programming to be carried out during installation is generally not carried out by the user, but by service personnel of the manufacturer or his representative. Because such programming requires specialist knowledge of the properties of the heating system, such programming should not be possible for the user.

This division into programmability of functions by the user on the one hand and by service personnel on the other is very easily solved in a control device of the type described in that the user is given only those operating cards 31 which are suitable for programming by the user, while those operating cards 31 which require special expertise in connection with programming are only provided to the service Personnel are made available. For the user, this means that they are not confronted with programming that overextends their knowledge.

It can be advantageous to privilege those operating operations that the user will frequently carry out, namely the entry of the switch-on and switch-off times for different heating programs on the individual days of the week. This can happen, for example, in that the control device 1 is provided with a lockable cover 90 (FIG. 11). The cover 90 can be fastened to the operating front 2 by means of a hinge 91, for example. When the cover 90 is closed, access to the cassette 30 is not possible, so that the cassette 30 cannot be opened. An exchange of control cards 31 is therefore not possible.

The position of the cover 90, opened or closed, can be checked by means of a cover contact 92. For example, the lid contact 92 is open when the lid 90 is closed and closed when the lid 90 is open. The position of the cover 90 is recognized by the control device 1 on the basis of the position of the cover contact 92.

On the cover front 93 facing the user, a text field 4 is present in the same way as in the control device 1 according to FIG. 1. The title block 4 of the front cover 93 is constructed as described from texts 8 and symbols 9 and contains information accessible to the user as to how the data shown in the display 3 is to be interpreted. If the cover 90 is closed and thus the cover contact 92 is open, then the program running in the microprocessor 50 branches to that part of the program which sends the data belonging to the text field 4 of the front cover 93 to the display 3. If, on the other hand, the cover 90 is open and thus the cover contact 92 is closed, the program branches to that part of the program which, depending on the control card 31 in the cassette 30, sends the data associated with the respectively active control card 31 to the display 3.

The program running in the microprocessor 50 controls a process in accordance with the algorithms laid down in the program, taking into account the data characterizing the process, which are queried and buffered by the program. In the case of a heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system, the algorithms describe the relationships between the process data and the actions to be carried out. Process data in this sense are, for example, measured outside temperatures, the temperature of a boiler in the system, the flow and return temperatures in the heating circuit, the temperature of a test room or the temperature of several rooms, the position of a mixing valve between the heating circuit and the heating circuit, the position of shut-off devices or other valves or air dampers and the operating state of a circulation pump. Actions to be carried out in this sense are, for example, switching a boiler on, off or modulating up or down switching, adjusting a mixing valve or other shut-off and control elements, adjusting the speed of circulation pumps.

The programming of the control device 1 is a process superimposed on the control process, which is preferably interrupt-controlled. However, there may also be two microprocessors 50, one of which controls the control process while the other controls the programming process.

The program running in the microprocessor 50 periodically checks whether there are any actions by the user. It is periodically queried whether one of the selection keys 5 or the correction key 6 has been pressed. In addition, it is periodically checked in which switching state the cover contact 92 and the cassette contact 80 are located.

If the cover 90 is closed, a program part is called up which shows the data belonging to the text field 4 on the cover front 93 on the display 3. To clarify the processes taking place, it is assumed that the following information is shown in the text field 4 of the cover front 93 in the lines belonging to the individual display lines 7 and in the display lines 7 of the display 3: row text Values in the display 3 1 Clock: weekday (1 ... 7) 1 2nd Clock: Usage time 1, start 6.10 3rd Clock: Usage time 1, end 7.30 4th Clock: Usage time 1, room temperature ° C 21.5 5 Clock: Usage time 2, start 7.30 6 Clock: Usage time 2, end 17.00 7 Clock: Usage time 2, room temperature ° C 19.0 8th Clock: Usage time 3, start 17.00 9 Clock: Usage time 3, end 22.00 10th Clock: Usage time 3, room temperature ° C 21.0 11 Clock: Copy to weekday no. 1 12th Clock: room temperature idle ° C 15.0

From the data storage locations provided for the individual values, the program copied these values in the additional display storage locations 7 assigned to the individual display lines 7 of the display 3. The content of these last-mentioned data storage locations is in each case transmitted to the display 3 via the interface 54 and the multiplexer 59 and is shown there in the individual display lines 7. This results in the data being displayed in the Display 3, an example of which is shown above.

As long as no selection key 5 has been pressed, the values can be read in the individual display lines 7 of the display 3, while the marking field 11 of each display line 7 contains no representation, that is to say cannot be seen, provided the marking field 11 is used for this purpose, by pressing a selection key 5 signal. If the marking field 11 is used for other purposes, for example to mark faults such as data lying outside a permissible range, the pressing of a selection key 5 can also be signaled by the fact that the value appearing in the associated display line 7 is shown flashing.

In any case, the user is informed by the type of display line 7 whether a selection key 5 has been pressed or not. If no selection button 5 has been pressed, each press of the correction button 6 has no effect. This can be achieved in that the correction key 6 is only queried when a selection key 5 is active, i.e. was pressed beforehand, or also in that the correction key 6 is queried, but the status of which is ignored by the program.

If the user presses the uppermost of the selection buttons 5, the value "1" appears flashing. This is achieved in that the program continuously, for example interrupt-controlled, checks the state of the operating elements influencing the program sequence, cassette contact 80, lid contact 92, selection keys 5 and correction key 6, and depending on the states of these operating elements for various program parts branches. If the cover contact 92 is open, which characterizes the closed cover 90 and means that the title block 4 attached to the cover front 93 is active, a branch is made to a program part which reflects the state of the Cassette contact 92 ignored. Depending on which of the selection keys 5 was pressed, the program branches to different program parts. If, for example, the uppermost selection key 5 is pressed, a branch is made to a program part which flashes the value in the top display line 7 of the display 3. The status of the correction key 6 is queried by this program part and a time counter is counted up, the meaning of which will be explained later.

The value "1" in the top display line 7 of the display 3 stands for example for "Monday", the value "2" for "Tuesday" and so on. The user now has the option of influencing the value by pressing the correction key 6. In the line of the title block 4 belonging to this value, "(1 ... 7)" indicates that values smaller than "1" and larger than "7" are not permitted. The program advantageously independently checks for compliance with such limit values, such limit values advantageously being set directly in the program, so that access to the data memory 52 is not necessary. Because limit values are taken into account, actuating the end of the correction key 6 designated by “-” does not result in the value being reduced from “1” to “0”. It is useful if the value "7" appears in this case because the weekday "7" (Sunday) is the day before the weekday "1" (Monday). Starting from the value "1", pressing the end of the correction key 6 labeled "+" leads to the change of the value from "1" to "2", and when pressed again, changes from "2" to "3".

For example, if the user has changed the value from "1" to "2" and wants to save this value, he presses the top selection key 5 a second time. This executes the "Enter" function, that is, accepts the value "2" in the corresponding data storage space.

It is expedient to trigger the "Enter" function even if the user does not press the associated selection key 5 again presses. This can be triggered automatically, for example, after a certain time determined using the abovementioned time counter, for example 2 minutes, or else by pressing any other selection button 5, this pressing another selection button 5 simultaneously to activate the associated display line 7 can lead. It is also expedient to also trigger the “enter” function by opening the cover 90.

If the user presses the second selection button 5 seen from above, the value "6.10" changes from the static state to the flashing state. Now the user can use the correction button 6 to increase or decrease this value, in exactly the same way as explained above. Here too, the program-controlled consideration of limit values, namely "0.00" and "23.59", makes sense and is advantageous.

If the user presses the fourth selection button 5 seen from above, the value "21.5" changes from the static to the flashing state. Here too, the user can change the value using the correction key 6. Without having to use an instruction manual, it is immediately clear to him that he has to enter the value of a room temperature here, which should be maintained by the control device 1 in the time period fixed by the two times of the display lines above.

When entering such a room temperature, compliance with certain limit values can also be useful. While the limit values for the day of the week and the time are fixed, unchangeable quantities, it can be useful to make the limit values for temperature inputs variable. For example, for a control device 1 which is intended to regulate the heating of a single-family house, 12 ° C as the lower temperature limit and 23 ° C as the upper limit can be expedient, while for a control device 1, which should regulate the room temperature in the swimming pool of a thermal bath, 20 ° C as the lower limit and 35 ° C as the upper limit would be expedient. It is therefore advantageous if such limit values are not in the program as unchangeable variables, but are programmable. This programmability is achieved in that a corresponding subroutine is present in the program of the control device 1, which can be selected by an operating card 31 present in block 36.

The example described here of the execution of the writing field 4 on the front cover 93 comprises three useful times, the beginning and end of which can in principle be freely selected. The user can see without further explanation that he can program different room temperatures with regard to his habits for each individual day of the week at different times of the day.

If the user selects the selection key 5 belonging to the eleventh line of the writing field 4, he can again use the correction key 6 to change the daily value between "1" and "7". This option offers the option of copying a day program for which the individual usage times and their associated room temperatures have been set by the user to another day. For example, if the user has programmed the usage times and their temperatures for day "2" (Tuesday) and wishes that the same usage time-temperature data should also be used for days "1" (Monday), "3" (Wednesday) and " 4 "(Thursday) should apply, he can carry out this copying process with the eleventh selection key 5 and the correction key 6. This saves him from having to carry out the programming completely and separately for each day.

If the user presses the lowermost selection button 5, the program branches to a program part which inputs the room temperature at a time period called empty time enables, with idle time the entire period outside the useful hours 1 to 3 is meant. This time period is also referred to as the night lowering time, which is not appropriate here, however, because this time period need not be limited to a period within the night.

It is now assumed that the user is interested in certain parameters of the heating system, for example the prevailing outside temperature, the current flow temperature, the boiler temperature, etc. This requires the user to open the cover 90, which is advantageous only with a key provided for this purpose is possible. From the moment the cover 90 is opened, the writing field 4 attached to the front 93 is no longer active. Since the cover contact 92 closes when the cover 90 is opened, the program now branches to another program part. The status of the cassette contact 80 is checked in this program part. If the cassette 30 is open, so that the replacement of operating cards 31 is possible, a branch is made to a program part, which contains the number of the individual operating card 31 in the cassette 30 or the operating card 31 located in block 36 and possibly device parameters in the display 3 represents.

When the cover 90 is closed, however, the cassette 30 is also advantageously always closed, which is achieved, for example, in that the cover 90 presses against the front 33 of the cassette 30 when it is closed and forcibly brings it into the “closed” position. Advantageously, the cassette 30 has a lock acting against the operating front 2, so that the cassette 30 is not automatically opened again when the cover 90 is opened.

The user can now open the cassette 30 by releasing the lock and remove the block 36 from the cassette 30. Since the program using the reading unit 41 through their, for example, interrupt-controlled periodic query, recognizes that there is no operating card 31 in the cassette 30, the program outputs an error message on the display 3. This error message can look, for example, such that the decimal points of the four digits 10 are shown flashing in the top line of the display 3.

From block 36, the user selects the control card 31 that provides information about the data he wants. In block 36 there is, for example, an operating card 31 on which the following information is found: row text 1 Outside temperature ° C 2nd Boiler temperature ° C 3rd Flow temperature heating ° C 4th Return temperature heating ° C 5 Water heater temperature ° C 6 Actual temperature test room ° C 7 Target temperature test room ° C 8th Operating period (useful time; 0 = idle time) 9 Burner (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 10th Circulation pump heating (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 11 Boiler loading pump (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 12th Mixing valve heating opening%

Since the user finds on this control card 31 those parameters whose data he wishes to know, he now moves the block 36 so that this control card 31 is on top and inserts it into the cassette 30 through the opening 32. The coding of the operating card 31 lying on top is determined dynamically or statically by the reading unit 41. Information about which operating card 31 is located in the cassette 30 is stored in a corresponding data storage location in the data storage 52.

It may be advantageous that the program is designed such that an identification number of the operating card 31 appears in the display 3, which identification number is also printed on the operating card 31, so that the user can check whether the operating card 31 has been correctly recognized.

By closing the cassette 30, a branch is made to a program part which reads the identification number of the control card 31 located on top of the cassette 30 from the data memory 52 and, depending on this identification number, branches to a program part which contains the data belonging to this control card from the data memory 52 reads and displays 3 in the display. For example, the following display in title block 4 and display 3 could now be shown to the user: row text Values in the display 3 1 Outside temperature ° C 5.3 2nd Boiler temperature ° C 80 3rd Flow temperature heating ° C 45 4th Return temperature heating ° C 39 5 Water heater temperature ° C 60 6 Actual temperature test room ° C 20.7 7 Target temperature test room ° C 20.5 8th Operating period (useful time; 0 = idle time) 2nd 9 Burner (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 1 10th Circulation pump heating (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 0 11 Boiler loading pump (0 = OFF 1 = ON) 1 12th Mixing valve heating opening% 30th

The user is thus presented with current data that represent a description of the operating state of the heating system. The information in the title block 4 allows the user to interpret the data shown in the display 3 without any explanatory operating instructions need. The data shown in the display 3 are values which the user cannot access correctively. The program is therefore designed in such a way that the actuation of the selection keys 5 and the correction key 6 is ignored by that part of the program which represents the data as above. Pressing a selection button 5 also does not cause the value in the associated display line 7 to flash.

In the exemplary embodiment shown above, the states of certain system parts are identified by the number "0" for the state "OFF" and the number "1" for the state "ON". However, it is also possible not to use the digits 10 for this purpose, but rather the marking field 11. Then, for example, the visible marking field 11 would mean that the state "ON" is present, while the state "OFF" is characterized in that the marking field 11 is not visible.

Some conventional control devices also have switches with more than two positions. For example, they serve as a program selector switch to select one of several alternative modes of operation. With a control unit for a heating system, such a program selector switch can have the following four positions, for example: system off, system manual operation, system automatic (night reduced), system economical (permanently reduced). The last-mentioned operating alternative is intended, for example, to only use reduced heating during a vacation.

It is also advantageous to emulate such a program selector switch using the text field 4 and display lines 7. This is done, for example, by connecting several lines of the text field 4 and several display lines 7 to form a unit which can be recognized as such, as is indicated below: row text Display 3 1 Program switch heating off 2nd Heating on, manual operation 3rd Heating on, automatic # 4th Heating on, holiday operation . ......

The sign "#" means that the corresponding marking field 11 is visible. For the user, it is now clear beyond doubt that the heating is switched on and runs in automatic mode, and also that he has to press the selection key 5 assigned to the fourth line of the text field 4 when he switches the system to holiday mode want. If the user presses this fourth key, the program branches to a program part which causes the marking field 11 visible in the third line to disappear, while the marking field 11 in the fourth line becomes visible.

If the user wants to modify changeable data, the change to be made can be more or less large. When changing the day of the week, which can only take on values between 1 and 7, there is a small range of values. If each press of the correction button 6 causes the value to change by one, the entire range of values can be reached with a maximum of six individual operations.

In the case of data with a large range of values, it is advantageous not only to enable values to be changed by individual actuations, but also that the prolonged pressing of the correction key 6 leads to repetitive changes in the value, as long as the correction key 6 is pressed. This can be achieved in that the query of the state of the correction button 6 triggered by the microprocessor 50 takes place at such short intervals that the program running in the microprocessor 50 can distinguish between one momentary single operation and holding the correction key 6 for a longer time. If the microprocessor 50 recognizes that the correction key 6 has been pressed for a longer time, the program branches to a program part with which the value is continuously corrected as long as the correction key 6 remains pressed. In this case, it may be expedient not to keep the speed of the continuous correction constant, but rather to increase it, for example, with increasing duration of holding the correction key 6. It can also be advantageous that the speed of the correction represents a function of the instantaneous value, that for example the rate of change increases with increasing value and the rate of change decreases with falling value. This enables the user to make major changes to values in a short time.

Claims (12)

1. A programmable control or regulating device (1) which has a microprocessor (50), a program memory (51) and a data memory (52) and which is provided with a front control portion (2) on which are disposed an identification panel (4), control buttons, at least one correction button (6) and a display device with a display (3) and display line (7), characterised by the following features:

   a. the display (3) has a plurality of display lines (7),

   b. associated with each display line (7) is a part of the identification panel (4), wherein

   b1. the identification panel (4) has information in the form of texts (8) and/or symbols (9) of which at least a part is arranged in line form in such a way that the texts (8) and/or symbols (9) can be recognised as being associated with given display lines (7) or selector buttons (5),

   c. associated with each display line (7) is a selector button (5) which serves to select a display line (7) from the whole array of all display lines (7) or the texts (8) and/or symbols (9) associated therewith,

   d. the correction button (6) serves for changing the content of the selected display line (7) if the selector button (5) in question was or is activated or pressed,

   e. associated with the front control portion (2) is a plurality of control cards (31) with a number of lines of the identification panel (4), which number corresponds to the number of display lines (7),

   e1. each control card (31) has a code panel (37) which is provided with at least one marking (38) which is specific in terms of number, kind and/or arrangement,

   f. a reading unit (41) at the front control portion (2) serves for machine reading of the markings (38) of the code panel (37) in question, in such a way that

   f1. in dependence on the code panel (37) with the markings (38) of a given control card (31) which is fed to the reading device, the microprocessor (50) receives from the reading unit (41) an item of information about the control card (31) which is fed to the reading unit (41),

   g. the microprocessor (50) executes an associated part of the program in dependence on said item of information,

   g1. acts on the control or regulating device (1) in such a way that it controls or regulates a process in accordance with the running part of the program possibly in consideration of the data characterising the process, and

   g2. causes display on each display line (7) of the item of information associated with the respective line of the identification panel (4).
2. A device according to claim 1 characterised in that mounted on the front control portion (2) is a cassette (30) into which control cards (31) can be inserted.
3. A device according to claim 2 characterised in that the reading unit (41) is arranged in the cassette (30).
4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3 characterised in that the markings (38) are optically readable and that the reading unit (41) includes at least one reading element (40) which comprises a light-emitting diode (70) and a phototransistor (71).
5. A device according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterised in that a cassette contact (80) which is actuable by the cassette (30) can have its state periodically checked by the microprocessor (50) whereby the microprocessor (50) detects whether the cassette (30) is in the 'open' position permitting the exchange of control cards (31) or in the 'closed' position' which does not permit the exchange of control cards (31) and that, when the cassette (30) occupies the 'closed' position, it executes a further program part with which data which belong to the control card (31) can be displayed in the display (3).
6. A device according to claim 5 characterised in that, when the cassette (30) occupies the 'open' position, the microprocessor (50) executes a program part with which an its of information as to which control card (31) has been recognised by the reading unit (41) can be displayed in the display (3).
7. A device according to one of claims 2 to 6 characterised in that mounted on the front control portion (2) is a cover (90) which in its 'closed' position prevents access to the cassette (30) while in its 'open' position the user has access to the cassette (30).
8. A device according to claim 7 characterised in that the microprocessor (50) periodically checks the state of a cover contact (92) which is actuable by the cover (90) whereby the microprocessor (50) detects whether the cover (90) is in the 'closed' position or in the 'open' position and that it is only when the cover (90) is open that items of information which are associated with the control card (31) disposed in the cassette (30) can be displayed in the display (3).
9. A device according to claim 7 or claim 8 characterised in that the cover (90) is lockable.
10. A device according to claim 8 or claim 9 characterised in that the cover (90) has a front cover portion (93) on which an identification panel (4) is disposed and that when the cover (90) is closed the microprocessor (50) performs a program part which displays in the display (3) items of information associated with the identification panel (4) on the front cover portion (93).
11. A device according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that by virtue of actuation of a selector button (5) the microprocessor (50) executes a program part which causes a flashing display of the item of information displayed in the display line (7) associated with the actuated selector button (5), when the program part permits a change in the information by the user.
12. A device according to claim 11 characterised in that when information is displayed in a flashing mode the correction button (6) is operative and permits the user to reduce or increase the value of the information.

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